Iran’s Ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, has written to the Security Council, calling on it to act over President Donald Trump’s latest threats as they are a clear violation of the UN Charter’s ban on the threat of force.
The US President has warned Iran to return to negotiations over its nuclear programme or face a US military operation.
Trump said in a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform, “A massive Armada is heading to Iran,” adding that the fleet is “ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary.”
“Hopefully Iran will quickly ‘Come to the Table’ and negotiate a fair and equitable deal – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS – one that is good for all parties. Time is running out, it is truly of the essence! As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL!”
Donald Trump
Trump referred to nuclear weapons despite repeatedly claiming that last year’s US attacks “obliterated” the Iranian nuclear programme.
In an apparent reference to the US bombing of three of Iran’s nuclear facilities in June, the US President also warned that should Iran fail to agree a deal, the next attack would be “far worse.”
Iran responded by threatening retaliation, warning that it would strike back against the US, Israel and countries supporting them.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi asserted in a post on Wednesday evening that the Iranian armed forces are ready to respond to any possible attack by the United States, hours after US President Donald Trump reiterated a threat to take military action against the country.
“Our brave Armed Forces are prepared—with their fingers on the trigger—to immediately and powerfully respond to ANY aggression against our beloved land, air, and sea.”
Abbas Araghchi.
Araghchi said that Iran had learned “valuable lessons” from Israel’s days-long military assault on the country in June of last year, which also saw the Trump administration launch its own attacks on Iranian nuclear sites. “The valuable lessons learned from the 12-Day War have enabled us to respond even more strongly, rapidly, and profoundly,” Araghchi added.
Araghchi told state media earlier on Wednesday that Iran would not restart negotiations on the nuclear file while it is being threatened with an attack.
“There was no contact between me and [US envoy Steve] Witkoff in recent days, and no request for negotiations was made from us.
“Our stance is clear: Negotiations don’t go along with threats, and talks can only take place when there are no longer menaces and excessive demands.”
Abbas Araghchi
Iravani’s letter to the UN, the sixth since tensions between Washington and Tehran surged amid its crackdown on protests that broke out late last year, cites Trump’s warning that a “massive Armada is heading to Iran” as “an explicit and unambiguous threat of the use of force.”
It said that Trump’s latest statement was “not an isolated incident but forms part of a broader and well-documented pattern of coercion, intimidation, destabilising activities, covert intelligence operations, and unlawful pressure” against Tehran.
It called on the Security Council and the UN leadership to “categorically reject any use or threat of force” by the US, and remind Washington, as a permanent member of the Security Council, “of its binding obligations under the Charter and of the serious consequences of any military aggression.”
Iran Reaffirms Right To Self-Defence
The letter said that Iran reaffirmed its right to self-defence under international law and said that it would “exercise its right to take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and people.”
Trump has repeatedly indicated that he is considering ordering military action in response to Tehran’s crackdown on antigovernment protests this month, raising tensions across the region.
The situation appeared to calm after the demonstrations were quelled and Trump said Iran had pledged not to carry out any planned executions of demonstrators.
However, tensions reignited again this week after the Trump administration moved the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to the region, spurring fears of a military confrontation.
It remains to be seen how the UN Security Council will respond to Iran’s request.
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